University News

WIU's Love Your Body Day is Oct. 15

October 9, 2014

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MACOMB, IL - According to the National Organization for Women (NOW) Foundation, everyone should love what they see when they look in the mirror. Yet advertisers, Hollywood and the fashion, cosmetics and diet industries work hard to make people believe that no parts of their bodies are acceptable.

On Wednesday, Oct. 15, the NOW Foundation will sponsor the 17th annual Love Your Body Day (LYBD), which began in 1998 as part of its Women's Health Project. In conjunction with the national event, the Western Illinois University Women's Center, Campus Recreation, the Counseling Center, Beu Health Center's Health Education program and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. will host a variety of activities.

"LYBD is a day for people to reflect and discuss the ways in which our society establishes and communicates unreasonable and often harmful expectations of beauty for all genders," said Women's Center graduate assistant Ashley Schantz, "Through participation in LYBD programs and activities, the WIU community will have an opportunity to break down some of these expectations and define their own personal standards of beauty."

This year's LYBD schedule includes:

  • Oct. 13-14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. - The Women's Center and Beu Health Center will host a "Share it All" activity in the University Union Concourse. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by and share positive body image thoughts and feelings by filling out a "Share it All" card.
  • Oct. 15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. - The Women's Center will host a resource fair in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose/Activity Room. This fair will include information from the Women's Center, University Counseling Center, Women's Studies Student Association, Beu Health Education Students T.A.L.K. peer educators, The Center for Masculinities and Men's Development, Campus Recreation and the Women's Center.
  • Oct. 15, 11-11:45 a.m. - Students, faculty and staff are invited to help kick off National Love Your Body Day with a Cardio Kickboxing class taught by Alyssa Gaudreault, Campus Recreation graduate assistant, at the Student Recreation Center, Studio East.
  • Oct. 15, noon-1 p.m. - Members of the campus community are invited to re-fuel by attending "The Food Your Body Loves" program in the Multicultural Center Activity Room. Participants can select from various foods that will benefit their bodies.
  • Oct. 15, 2-3 p.m. - Students T.A.L.K. will host an interactive Body Image presentation and discussion on the often harmful effects of media on body image and health in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room.
  • Oct. 15, 3-4 p.m. - Staff from the University Counseling Center will facilitate a discussion of ways to establish a stronger and more positive self-image during "Six Pillars of Self-Esteem" in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room.
  • Oct. 15, 5-6 p.m. - Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. will present "Love Your Selfie," an interactive discussion about body image in the era of social media. The event will be held in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room and will begin by displaying "selfies" taken by members of the campus community throughout the week. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect upon the negative effects of harmful social media behavior. Leaving this program, participants will take a pledge to take a stand to be advocates for positive self-image and social change.
  • Oct. 15, 7-8 p.m. – "Looks Aren't Everything. Believe Me, I'm a Model," a short video of underwear model Cameron Russell discussing her experience working for an industry that sexualized her image from the young age of 16 years old, will be presented in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room. Assistant Director of the Center for Masculinities and Men's Development and Associate Faculty Member Jennie Hemingway will guide participants through a discussion of Russell's story.

The NOW Foundation organized LYBD as a platform to encourage others to educate, discuss and advocate for a more healthy and diverse conception of beauty.

For more information about Love Your Body Day or to request a presentation for a residence hall floor, sorority or other group, contact the Women's Center at (309) 298-2242 or visit wiu.edu/wc.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing